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Windows Update server revamped

Microsoft has released an update to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0, aimed at improving performance and stability. WSUS 3.0 Service Pack 1 adds what Microsoft describes as "customer-requested" improvements. Specific driver catalogues provided by hardware manufacturers can now be delivered to local PCs via WSUS. The new programming interface (Client Servicing API) should improve communication with client PCs. Updates can be filtered by category and classification.

In addition to the server, the program package also includes the administration console, which can be installed on a separate PC if required. The new version of WSUS runs under both Windows Server 2003 and the recently released Windows Server 2008.

The WSUS server helps distribute Windows updates on large networks. It downloads all updates for selected products from Microsoft's servers and makes them available to the automatic update function on local PCs running Windows. The administrator has detailed control over the patch status of client PCs and which new updates are to be installed.